All US research on Antarctica has stopped. All scientists are returning home, and only a skeleton crew will remain behind to maintain the three US bases. This could have an effect on international research as well, since other countries use the runway at McMurdo.

The Nathaniel B. Palmer is an icebreaker operated by the US National Science Foundation. Cassandra Brooks, one of the 37 scientists the ship can accomodate for missions of up to 75 days and deep in the Antarctic winter, shot this timelapse video of the ship doing its stuff over a two month period while traveling…